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Submarine Launched Weapons

China maintains a small fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. This includes the Han-class and Chang-class SSNs, and the Xia-class and Jin-class SSBNs. Of these, the Xia and Jin are nuclear capable, but neither were though to be operational as of 2008.

Missiles (SLBM)

Type

NATO Designation

 Number Year Deployed Range (km) Warhead x Yield (kilotons) Number of Warheads
JL-1 CSS-NX-3 (12)*  1986 1,000+ 1 x 200-300 0
JL-2 CSS-NX-4 (24)** 2009-2010? 7,200+ 1 x 200-300 ? 0
* Although the JL-1 missiles and launch tubes exist, they and their delivery platform (the Xia are not thought tobe fully operational.
* A third may be under construction. The U.S. intelligence community estimated in 2006 that “a fleet of probably five TYPE 094 SSBNs will be built in order to provide more redundancy and capacity for a near-continuous at-sea SSBN presence.” Whether China plans for "near-continuous at-sea SSBN presence," however, is unknown.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Submarines (SSB, SSN, SSBN)

Class
Displacement
Missile
 TubesIOC Inventory
Golf   (tests)
3
1*
Type 91 (Han)* 5,000 tons YJ-1*
6
4
Type 92 (Xia) 8,000 tons JL-1
12
(1)**
Type 93 (Shang)*   LACM?
2009-2010
(2)
Type 94 (Jin)   JL-2
12
2009-2010
(2)***

* Not thought to be nuclear-capable.
** The Xia has never sailed on a deterrent patrol and is not thought to be fully operational.
*** A third may be under construction. The U.S. intelligence community estimated in 2006 that “a fleet of probably five TYPE 094 SSBNs will be built in order to provide more redundancy and capacity for a near-continuous at-sea SSBN presence.” Whether China plans for "near-continuous at-sea SSBN presence," however, is unknown.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sources and Resources


FAS | Nuke | Guide | China |||| Index | Search | Join FAS

http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/china/slbm/
Maintained by Hans M. Kristensen (hkristensen@fas.org)